The Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Date: May 19 2002
Major: Other (This Major's Salary over time)
MIT can be a very lonely place and students tend to stick with people they know and thus seem unapproachable. Professors can also give you the feeling that they'd rather lick the gum off the bottom of their shoes than interact with students and address their issues. But departments vary a lot in this aspect. When I changed majors, I was met with a much friendlier atmosphere and suddenly my impression of MIT changed drastically. I still don't think that it's a particularly happy place, but I am now much more satisfied with my interactions with both faculty and students. In terms of my major/department (Brain and Cognitive Sciences, course IX), there isn't a better place in the world, both in quality of research and academics, as well as the atmosphere.

My major problem with MIT is the administration and their inability to fix problems with the system. They have a horrible relationship with undergrads, grad students, and professors. They feign interest in student opinions and then make their decision as if they have a policy of doing the opposite of what we suggest.